this is how I link EXR headers and libraries:
LIBS += -lz -lpthread
LIBS += -LPWD/../OpenEXR1/lib/−lIlmImf−21−lHalf−lIex−21−lIexMath−21−lImath−21−lIlmThread−21INCLUDEPATH+=PWD/../OpenEXR_1/include/OpenEXR
DEPENDPATH += PWD/../OpenEXR1/libPRETARGETDEPS+=PWD/../OpenEXR_1/lib/libIlmImf-2_1.a PWD/../OpenEXR1/lib/libHalf.aPWD/../OpenEXR_1/lib/libIex-2_1.a PWD/../OpenEXR1/lib/libIexMath−21.aPWD/../OpenEXR_1/lib/libIlmThread-2_1.a $$PWD/../OpenEXR_1/lib/libImath-2_1.a
DEFINES += USE_EXR
general | image | rendering |